Body protecting shield



May 24, 1949. M. M- M DONALD BODY PROTECTING SHIELD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1946 L: fl]: I: III L1 I I l l INVENTOR MATILDA MARGARET M DONALD ATV-0:91:16

May 24, 1949. MCDONALD BODY PROTECTING SHIELD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1946 'NVENTOR.

MATILDA MARGARET M DONALD.

ATTORNEYS,

Patented May 24, 1949 UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in body protecting shields, and has for its primary object the provision of such a shield adapted for military or naval use, and possessing structural characteristics enabling the shield to be readily assembled and applied to the user, or collapsible, or disassembled to occupy minimum space for purposes of storage, shipping or the like.

The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a shield having a main front (and in instances a similar back) portion formed of sheetmetal or other bullet-proof material substantially flat, or but slightly curved to conform to the contour of the body of the user, to which front is adjustably connected lateral or side portions to protect the sides of the wearer and similarly adjustable leg and intervening portions to protect the upper leg portions of the wearer.

Such preferred embodiment of the invention further embraces a novel slidable connection between the auxiliary portions of the shield and the main or front protecting portion whereby the former may be either detached for stacking and shipping in numbers, or may be withdrawn to occupy superimposed relationship with the front protecting portion, so that the entire device may, in collapsed condition, be confined substantially Within the area defined by the marginal or surrounding edge of the front protecting portion, enabling the devices, as an entirety, to be stacked in relatively fiat formation for storage or shipment in quantity, and in minimum space required therefor. I I

The invention still further has for its object,

in said preferred embodiment thereof, the correlation and formation of the adjustable connections of the leg or appended protecting portions of the shield whereby the same may move in conformity with the raising of the legs, or either of them from an extended or vertical position, so as to not interfere with the comfort or freedom of movement of the wearer.

The foregoing and still other advantageous characteristics of the invention will be more fully or better understood from the detailed description hereinafter contained when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of the shield with the adjustable depending and lateral protecting portions in fully extended positions.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the shield collapsed, that is, with the said portions withdrawn beneath 2 the main front portion or in parallel or superimposed relationship therewith.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation or back View of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top view showing the manner of affixing the shield to the body.

Figure 5 is a similar top view showing the utilization of the device of the preceding figures in connection with a shield portion for the back of the user.

Figure 6 is a rear elevation to illustrate the fastening means for securing the device to the body of the user when the back shield is employed.

Figure 7 is a detail view of a slightly modified construction.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts in the several views, Ill represents the main body or front protecting portion of the shield substantially flat in cross section, which is formed of suitable metal or bullet-proof fabric, or other equivalent material, that may be flexed or bent to conform to the bod of the user, the same being provided with shoulder portions II and an intermediate cutaway portion E2 to accommoda'te the neck and chin of the wearer. In the shoulder portions there are slots or apertures l3, for a purpose to be later pointed out. Near the margins of the sides and bottom of the shield portion III are slots I4, I5 and I6, the slots HI running parallel with the side edges to accommodate lateral shield members or flaps H, the slots I5 being parallel with the bottom edge of the shield portion II] to accommodate leg protecting portions I8, and the slot I6 being intermediate the slots I5, and somewhat overlapping the inner ends of the latter to accommodate an intermediate protecting portion I9. The side flaps or extensions II are designed to pass around the body of the wearer at the sides of the latter, below the arms, and the portions I8 are adapted to overlie the upper portions of the legs, as will be obvious, the leg protecting portions I8 underlying the intermediate protecting portion I9.

The protecting portions ll, I8 and I9 are adjustably or removably connected to the front protecting portion I0 of the shield through the medium of passing the shield portions through their respective slots from the rear to the front of the device, the rim or marginal portions 26, of the front protecting portion I0, being deflected slightly in a rearward direction, as at 2|, so that the flaps and depending extensions I1, 18 and I9 will when extended lie fiat with the shield portion I!) rather than project forwardly at right angles to the plane of said portion I0. T-heads Ila, l8a and l9a constitute the inner ends of the laterally projecting and depending flaps to contact the ends of their respective slotted portions to limit theoutward movement-of the flaps, as is clearly {illustrated .in Figure 3.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the lateral and depending protecting parts l1, l8 and I 9, when not in use, may be slid inwardly beneath the front body or protecting portion lll within the marginal portions of the said portion H3 and beneath the same, when it is desired to stack and ship the devices, or said portions may beentirely removed rearwardly of the slots and portionJll, and themselves stacked for shipment apart from the similarly stacked or nested portions II], de-

pendent upon the fiexibilityor initial formation of the side protecting flaps-or shield portions t0 and -l'!. They may be originally formed or flexed to a slight curvature to conform, generally, to thebody of the wearer and permit the members I! to pass somewhat rearwardlyto protect the sides of the wearer when the shield. is in use and the members l1 connected around the body of the wearer by a strap 22, passing through the slots or apertures M in the shield portions H. The supporting of the shield on the body, by the strap or belt '22, may be supplemented by similar straps 23 .sleeved upon --the strap 22, as atM, and engaged with the slots !3 in the shoulder portions ll, suitable buckles :25 or equivalent means,.as snap ball andlsocket devices, being employed for the purpose.

When the back protecting portion, indicated at 26, is employed-thesamehaving complemental .side flaps or portions 21, adjustable with respect ,to the back protecting ,portionzfi, the same as heretofore pointed out in connection with the side flaps l'T-the then adjacent side protecting portions I! and 21 may be secured together by little straps 28, sleeved therethrough (slots 29 being provided for the purpose) and secured in place through the medium of buckles or equivalent devices 30. The upper ends or shoulder portions of the back shield will-be connected to theshoulder portions II in thesame manner and secured bysimilar little straps 3i and fasteners 32, slits 33 complemental to the slots l3 enabling the accomplishment of :this result.

In lieu of the buckled little straps referred to,

fasteners may be themselves directly attached and form a part of the -;lateral projecting portions l1 and 2;! and shoulder portions of the front and back protecting member I919 and 2S -(see Figure 6), as is obvious,and, in fact, minor changes in the construction and arrangement,

while permitting the performance of the various functions and results pointed out, may ,be resorted to without departing from the spirit of belt 32 and upright straps 22, as previously mentioned.

I claim:

1. A protecting shield or armor, comprising an enlarged front portion, and means for supporting the same on the body of a user, in combination with depending leg protecting members having slidable and swinging connecting means with the lower end of said portion for self-adjustment thereof longitudinally with respect to the body portion and in ,a f orwardswingingv direction to 10 :conform to, the--raisingandl lowering movements til of the legs of the user, said slidable and swing- ;ing connecting means comprising slotted pornation with depending leg protecting members movably connected to the lower end of said portion for self-adjustment thereof both longitudinazllywithrespect to the body portion and-in a forwardly swinging direction to conformtothe 'raising and -lowering movements of the'legs of the user, the-movable connecting -means com- I prising slotted e'dgesof the front portion =arranged for vertical passage of 'the' legprotecting members and offset portionsof the-latter engaging walls'of the. slots to limit'the downward movementof the leg'protectirrg members, and an intermediate protecting portion similarly connected to thefront portion betweenthe leg protectingmembers and overlapping the same, said intermediate protecting portion being swung forwardly and upwardlyWhen'engagedby the leg protecting members.

3. .A- protecting shield or armor, comprising an -:en-larged front portion, and means for supporting the same'on the'body'of a "user, in combination with a supplemental protecting member marginally connected to said=portion for adjust- -:ment relative thereto,the-connecting means comprising a slotted part of said front portion t-hroughwhich the supplemental protecting memberds slidable, and said protecting member 'hav- .ing 'a'T shaped'in-ner end to cooperate with the wall of the slot in limiting outward movement of the supplemental protecting member.

4. :A protecting shield or armor, comprising a ,enlarged front portion, and means for support- .ing thesame on thebody 'of a user, "in combina- "tion with independent spaced depending leg proitecting members and lateral independent side horizontal sliding'movementof the side flaps rel- -a-tive'to the front portion, the connecting-means being also formed to pivot theleg protecting memzbersrand side flaps for movementstransversely of said :front portion.

5. A protecting shield or armor, comprising an enlarged front portion, and means for supporting the same on the 'body 'Of a user, in combination with depending legprotecting members and lateral side flaps each having connecting means for attachment to thefro nt portion for sliding movement relative thereto, the connecting means being also formed to pivot the leg protecting members and side flaps for movements transversely of said front portion, and all of said leg protecting members and side flaps being of T-head forma- ':tion to limit their outwardly projecting movements.

6. A protecting shield orarmor, comprising an enlarged front portion, and means for supporting the same on the body of a user, in combination with slidable and detachable supplemental protecting members having detachable connecting means through the front portion for extension therefrom and whereby said supplemental members may be withdrawn beneath the front portion for nesting or separated therefrom for separate storage or shipment, said detachable connecting means comprising slotted portions of the front portion through which the supplemental protecting members slidably engage and are free for re moval therefrom.

'7. A protecting shield or armor, comprising an enlarged front portion and a rear portion, in combination with pairs of lateral side flaps on both said front and rear portions, each pair having connecting means with the said portions for self-adjustment thereof with reference to the front or rear portion to which it is connected, and swinging movement to permit the flaps of each pair to be adjusted towards each other, and means for holding them in such condition.

8. A protecting shield or armor, comprising an enlarged front portion and a rear portion, in combination with pairs of lateral side flaps on both said front and rear portions, each pair having connecting means with the said portions for self-adjustment thereof with reference to the front or rear portion to which it is connected, and swinging movement to permit the flaps of each pair to be adjusted towards each other, and means for holding them in such condition, the front and rear portions having shoulder extensions, and detachable means for holding said extensions together.

9. A protecting shield or armor, comprising an enlarged front portion and a rear portion, in combination with pairs of lateral side flaps on both said front and rear portions, each pair having connecting means with the said portions for self-adjustment thereof with reference to the front or rear portion to which it is connected, and swinging movement to permit the flaps of each pair to be adjusted towards each other,

Number Name Date 418,396 Buck Dec. 31, 1889 1,246,274 Jelalian Nov. 13, 1917 1,385,371 Fraser July 26, 1921 2,052,684 Wisbrod Sept. 1, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 104,617 Great Britain Mar. 15, 1917 v 6 and means for holding them in such condition, the front and rear portions having shoulder portions, the shoulder portions and the side flaps having means to accommodate shoulder-supporting straps.

10. A protecting shield or armor, comprising an enlarged front portion, in combination with a lateral side flap having connecting means with the front portion for self-adjustment thereof, and swinging movement to permit said flap to be disposed rearwardly at the side of the user, the front portion having an upwardly extending shoulder portion, and said shoulder portion and the side flap having means to accommodate shoulder-supporting straps, said connecting means comprising a slotted portion of the front portion through which the said flap passes and may swing.

11. A protecting shield or armor, comprising an enlarged front portion, and means for supporting the same on the body of the user, in combination with supplemental protecting members having slidable connecting means through the front portion for extension therefrom and whereby said supplemental members may be withdrawn beneath the front portion for nesting, said connecting means including slotted portions in the enlarged front portion through which the supplemental protecting members loosely pass.

MATILDA MARGARET MCDONALD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

